What's for Dinner Wednesday~

Tonight it is all about comfort food.  Meatloaf and mashed potatoes to be exact.  But, as you all are probably aware of by now I cannot eat tomatoes (or any tomato products for that matter) due to an allergy.  We stumbled upon this tomato free-gluten free meatloaf recipe, and it is AMAZING!!

Karina's Gluten-Free Maple Meatloaf

The recipe can be found here.  You will not be disappointed.  We served homemade mashed potatoes alongside the meatloaf.

Enjoy!!

Let's talk undergarments~

Okay, we can all agree that the right undergarments can make or break an outfit.

Well the same goes for your home furnishings.  Rugs to be more specific. Pause...if you were expecting me to talk about that kind of undergarment, sorry to disappoint.  A girls gotta keep some things private. Just saying.

 Just like having the right undergarments for the type of clothing you choose to wear; loose, silky, fitted, etc. the right "undergarment" for your rug can make or break it as well.

I have had the unpleasant experience of having a commercial rug pad sold at a big box store leave semi-permanent marks on our hardwood floors.  Nothing short of having them refinished will remedy that.

Also, most of the rug pads you will find on the market are thin.  Adding no cushion, or "support" to your rug.

We have a rug in our front foyer area that we had a "traditional" rug pad under.  The rug is made of Jute and has a latex backing.  We added the rug pad for two reasons, 1) to protect our floors from the latex backing and 2) to keep the rug in place.

 Well, while the pad appeared to protect our hardwood floors it did nothing to keep it in place.  And, because it was constantly shifting the rug pad would bunch up underneath.  The constant need to straighten it out was growing old.

Our rug with the traditional rug pad purchased at a big box store.  You can visibly see the wrinkles!

And, just to keep it real...here is the reason for all that shifting.

Don't let that sweet face fool you.  When she gets a wild hair she does laps around the downstairs, through the hallway-into the kitchen-through the dining room-into the library and at top speed hits the rug in the foyer sending it flying.  At this point I should mention it was also becoming a saftey hazard for us humans.

Enter Rug Pad USA.  They custom cut their Eco Cushion rug pad, recommended for hardwood floors.

This rug pad has made a world of difference.  Our rug now has a bit of a spring to it, no longer hard like being on concrete and it DOES NOT MOVE!!!  And, in case you are wondering...yes, we had that little angel above test it out for us.

But, I have to say what I love most about this rug pad is that it is made from renewable, eco-friendly materials.  No worries about bringing more unwanted chemicals into our home.  With a child with allergies who also suffers from migraines, it is important to us to provide her with the healthiest environment possible when she is home.

I encourage you to visit their website and take a look around.  The friendly folks are also offering my readers a 15% discount.  Just use the coupon code pr15off.

If you do choose to purchase a new rug pad through them, I would love to hear what you think!!

Disclosure:  I was given a rug pad to review but all opinions are my own and sincere. 

Baylor Send Off Party~

We had the pleasure of hosting the Atlanta area Baylor Send Off party on Saturday.  Each summer prior to students heading back to the University, a send off party is held in various cities around the states.  Baylor sends one or two representatives to attend the party to help answer questions parents and students might have.  Unfortunately, our representative lost a dear friend last week and could not attend as she was speaking at her funeral.

The party is a way for new students, their parents, current students, their parents and alumni to connect.  It also gives new students and their parents a chance to ask questions they may have about the university and college life on the campus in general.  Many express how much it has helped ease their fears of sending their child 12 hours away from home.  Many lasting friendships are made as well.

We decided to have a dessert social for our party.  We lucked out in that the rain held out until after the party.  The weather was perfect.

I'll let the pictures do the talking...

A little green and gold pride!

The chocolate fountain is always a hit!!

We had a local bakery make the cupcakes and cookies for the party.  The cupcake toppers I had leftover from our daughter's graduation party.  I purchased them from an Etsy shop.

The cookies were so cute!  And, hard to resist.  Baby Girl and I couldn't partake in them as they are not gluten free.  Everyone else loved them!!  If you live in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend the Patio in Johns Creek for custom baked goods.

We offered Sweet Tea, Lemonade, "Baylor" water, and of course Dr. Pepper...the official beverage of Baylor University!!  (however, my daughter will tell you that coming from Atlanta...she is still a Coke girl!!)

"Baylor" water...water, lemons and limes...Green and Gold!!!

This was quite the conversation piece.  This is an old road sign from Waco, TX.  The university's main entrance is on, of course, University Parks Drive.  A few months ago, hubby and I were at Scott's Antique Market when he spotted this in the distance.  No doubt about it, it was coming home with us!!!  Everyone wanted to know how we had acquired it.  The legal way!!! LOL

I put the new porch chalkboard to use as well.

We had a wonderful time!  Can't believe we will be heading out in less than 2 weeks!! The summer flew by, and the fact that our baby girl will be a senior (she is finishing a year early) makes it even harder to comprehend!!  My friends keep asking, "didn't you just move her in for her freshmen year?"  Seems like it.

I promise house pictures are coming this week..."if" the rain holds off long enough!!

Have a Blessed week everyone!!!